What The Body Knows

For some time I had wanted to let go of some excess weight. I already knew that deprivation diets didn’t work for me as I always regained lost weight. So what would it take? I kept asking over and over: What would it take to get fitter and healthier?

Instead of attempting to beat my body into submission – which never worked – I had a chat with my body, treating it as my best friend. (See earlier my post “Your Body As Your Buddy”).
I asked: ok body what would you like to look like? I got pictures of petite, but shapely hourglass figures. Hmmm, not what was showing in the mirror… Great! And how can achieve that?

One day last December I saw a comment a friend posted on Facebook just saying: “Tomorrow I’m starting the Whole30”. That was it, no other info. My body started jumping up and down with excitement, practically screaming in my head: “We are doing this, too!”. So this conversation was kind of going on in my head:

Mind: “But what is it?”
Body: “Look it up. We are so doing this.”
Mind: “Not another diet!”
Body: “This is what I want. We are doing this NOW!”
Mind: “All right. Fine. I’ll check it out.”

My body really wanted to do it, there was such a strong pull. I read all the reviews, bought the book (It Starts With Food) and prepared to start in January, after the Christmas break of course.

30 days later I was feeling much more energetic, healthier and a whole stone lighter never having been hungry or deprived once. Wow! What did my body know that my mind didn’t? The conversation with my body continued and it let me know that it also wanted to move more. Note, it was “move”, not “exercise”…. Pilates kept appearing in my awareness. Did a search online and found class round the corner with a lovely trainer.

And six months later I am in better shape that I have been since my twenties. My body is very happy and, not only is it maintaining the results but is still changing: same weight but slimmer and shapelier. Amazing!

Our bodies are always talking to us, when we make the effort to listen to them.

What would happen if you started listening to what your body requires?
What could change for you?
What does your body require to have more ease and fun?